“Life Imitating Art – ARENT & PYKE”

Like those that hang on the walls, the design of this Balmain East house by Sydney firm Arent & Pyke is like a work of art in itself. Starting with a beautifully proportioned canvas of white walls, timber boards and natural stone, the interiors reveal themselves to be a refined portrait of layers and detail, which creates a space that defines a true sense of Australian-style and what it means to live in Australia; relaxed, open and very inviting.
The design was centred around the clients need to house their sizable art collection, and, following on from Arent & Pyke’s core design principal of balance, the furniture and material choices balance with the artwork in a serene and almost unassuming way. Marcel Breuer chairs sit happily with contemporary Australian works, delicate brass lights cut through a double height ceiling and give focus to the large works that dominate the wall. And this, really, is the beauty of Arent & Pyke’s work: the attention to detail and overall balance.
In the end, the artwork, so prized by the clients and so much a driving force behind the brief has indeed been made a part of a much larger work of art, which, at its heart, has become a truly special family home. And it is this which makes Arent & Pyke one of my new favourite Australian design studios!

Life Imitating Art – by Brendan Guy

to see more by Arent & Pyke images credited Tom Ferguson Photography